Toy



Dec. 26, 1939. A. LAPOINTE 2,184,459

TOY

Filed Jan. 12, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .JZWM Zapairzi'e JNVENTOR.

Y BY r ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 26, 1939. A, LAPOINTE 2,184,459

TOY

Filed Jan. 12, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H! Ill /6 /o' 12 flWeZ lapaz'izkINVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 26, 1939 'FU N-Il TLED smres TOY Alfred Lapointe, Pointeaux Trembles, Quebec,

Canad Application January 12, 1939, Serial No. 250,646

1 Claim.

This invention aims to provide a novel game apparatus, including a topand a table board, each of novel construction, the top being soconstructed that it may be operated readily, and

being so constituted that, when spun, it will give I devices of thattype to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made Within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows, in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation wherein the top is shown inclined, and resting onthe table board;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the top;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the top.

The top which forms the subject matter of this application may be madeof any desired materials, and may be colored or ornamented in anydesired way, so as to present an attractive appearance when spun. Thetop includes a base, which is denoted generally by the numeral I. Thebase I comprises a cruciform central member 2, including a hub 3 ofcircular outline, arms 4 projecting from the hub. The base of the topincludes an annular band 5, somewhat wider than the central member 2.Spacers 6 are interposed between the band" 5 and the ends of the arms 4,securing elements 1? passing through the band 5, through the spacers 6,and into the ends of the arms 4. The band 5 may be lettered, ornamented,colored or marked, in any desired way.

Indicators 8, which may be in the shape of human figures, or otherwise,have their lower ends mounted in the arms 4, the indicators beinglocated symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the top.

The upright body of the top is marked as a whole by the numeral 9. Itcomprises a hemispherical foot l0, connected to the hub 3 of the member2 by a depending spindle l l, passing upwardly through the part 3, andinto the foot l0. At its lower end, the spindle H is convexedly pointed,as shown at I2, so that the top will spin readily, and, at the sametime, the construction being such that articles upon which the top is 5spun, will not be marred. Near its lower end, the spindle II is suppliedwith a circumferential groove is, in which is secured one end of aflexible element l5, such as a piece of string. To the outer end of theflexible element I5 is 10 secured a sounder, such as a bell Hi. When thetop is spun, the sounder [B will rattle over the supporting surface, andfly upwardly against the central portion of the top, an attractivelynovel noise being produced. The flexible element I5 16 is short enoughto conflne the sounder [6 underneath the member 2 of the base i and,therefore, as the sounder swings up and down, should it be thrown farenough upwardly from the supporting surface, the sounder will strike thecentral 20 member 2 of the top, as has been explained hereinbefore.

The foot 10 of the body of the top is connected by a reduced neck H to aspherical head 18. The head I8 is supplied with oppositely disposed,out- 5 wardly projecting arms 22, and upon the ends of the arms,enlargements, such as beads may be mounted, the beads being colored ifdesired. The arms 22 and the beads 23 facilitate the handling of thetop, and, moreover, when the top 30 is spun, the beads 23 will produce anarrow zone, of a color corresponding to the color of the beads.

In the upper end of the head l8 of the body 9 is secured the lower endof a stem I9, and into 5' the upper end of the stem I9 is inserted ashaft 20, such as a wire nail having a head. The shaft 20 is mounted torotate in a grip 2|, which may be a bead. A spinning cord 24 is securedto and Wound about the stem l9.

The operator lays hold of the grip or bead 2|, and the cord 2 is drawnout, the shaft 20 and. associated parts turning freely in the bead 2|.

Owing to the form of the foot I0 and the head l8,a peculiarly attractiveeffect will be produced, 45 when the top is spun. When the top is spun,the sounder It will function as hereinbefore described. I

In connection with the top shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, theremay be supplied a 50 table member 25, adapted to be placed on anyconvenient support. The table member 25 preferably is in the form of aring 26, having radial divisions 21, which may be numbered, inscribedwith figures, or marked'in any other desired way. Because the tablemember 25 includes the ring 26, the top can be spun upon the hardsurface on which the table member is placed. The ring, moreover, tendsto keep the top spinning within a prescribed area. When the top ceasesto rotate, it may come to rest, in an inclined position, as shown inFig. 2, upon any of the divisions 2'! of the ring 26, and it will beobvious that, through the instrumentality of the apparatus disclosed,many interesting games can be played. No description as to the method ofplaying is given, because a patent is granted on the structure, and noton the way in which an article is used.

If desired, the ring 26 of the table member 25 may carry an oifset tab28, on which advertisements, instructions for playing a game, or thelike, may be marked.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is simple inconstruction, but it will be found capable of use in playing games whichwill suggest themselves to anyone. The top, of course, can be usedindependently of the table member 25 of Fig. 1, should the operatordesire.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A top adapted to be spun on a marked surface, the top comprising a bodyincluding substantially radial arms, with spaces therebetween, a thin,band-like rim surrounding the outer ends of the arms and securedthereto, and a spindle carrying the body for rotation on a surface, therim preventing the outer ends of the arms from striking a surface as thetop tilts and approaches a state of rest, the spaces and the band-likeconstruction of the rim exposing clearly the marks on a surface, whenthe top comes to rest and when the rim engages a surface.

